Basketball training apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

A basketball training method and apparatus that measures and perfects a player&#39;s shooting motion, providing feedback to the user. The apparatus will quickly give feedback to athletes in the shooting motion. It will improve their shot form and also train them to shoot the basketball the same way overtime in order to develop proper muscle memory, thereby creating a more accurate basketball shot. The instant feedback removes uncertainty for the player as to whether or not they are shooting the correct way.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/632,504, filed Feb. 20, 2018, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the sport of basketball, and more particularly to apparatus and methods for improving a player's shooting skills.

When training for basketball, players often spend countless hours practicing drills to perfect their shooting motion in order to achieve a consistent and accurate shot. Likewise, most drills are tedious and vague showing little results in improving players shooting abilities.

There are few products available to correct a player's shooting motion. Of those products that are available, they are unreliable because they focus on limited aspects of the shooting motion (stance, follow through, etc.) while this product address all aspects.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved basketball training aid that will quickly give feedback to athletes throughout the shooting motion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention a basketball shot training apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a sleeve formed of an elastic material and dimensioned to fit around a user's arm between a forearm and an upper arm. One or more sensors are carried on the sleeve and configured to determine a position and a movement of the user's arm when shooting a basketball. A control circuit with a processor is configured to compare the position and movement of the user's arm with a desired position and movement of the user's arm when shooting the basketball. A feedback signaling device is configured to advise the user of the position and movement of the user's arm relative to the desired position when shooting the basketball.

In some embodiments of the basketball shot training apparatus, the feedback signaling device is a light emitting device. The light emitting device is preferably visible in a peripheral field of view of the shooter when shooting. In some embodiments, the light emitting device illuminates in a first color, indicating conformance with the desired position. In other embodiments, the light emitting device illuminates a second color, indicating a deviation from the desired position.

In other embodiments, the feedback signaling device may be an audio output device. The feedback signaling device may also include a vibratory emitter.

The basketball shot training apparatus may also include an outer sleeve dimensioned to overly the sleeve.

In other aspects of the invention, a method for basketball shot training is disclosed. The method includes fitting a shot training sleeve to a shooting arm of a user. The shot training sleeve has one or more sensors carried on the sleeve configured to determine a position and a movement of the user's arm when shooting a basketball. A control circuit with a processor is configured to compare the position and movement of the user's arm with a desired position and movement of the user's arm when shooting a basketball and a feedback signaling device. The feedback signaling device is activated during a basketball shot to advise the user of the position and movement of the user's arm relative to the desired position when shooting the basketball.

The method may also include providing a positive feedback signal to the user when the basketball shot conforms with the desired position and movement. A negative feedback signal may also be provided to the user when the basketball shot is a deviation from the desired position and movement. The feedback signal is one or more of an audio, a visual, or a tactile feedback signal. In the case of a visual feedback signal, the method may include providing the visual feedback signal in a peripheral field of view of the user.

The method may also include activating the feedback signal during an initial ready position for the basketball shot. It may also include terminating the feedback signal after a follow through position for the basketball shot.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a first embodiment of the basketball training apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the basketball training apparatus with the outer sleeve removed.

FIG. 3 is rear elevation view of the basketball training apparatus with the outer sleeve provided.

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation view of the basketball training apparatus with the outer sleeve removed.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the basketball training apparatus shown in use in an initial aiming position.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the training apparatus in use in a follow through position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, embodiments of the present invention provides a training method and apparatus to enable a basketball player to improve their shooting form and improve their basketball shot.

As indicated, when training for basketball, players often spend countless hours practicing drills to perfect their shooting motion. The training apparatus and method facilitates development of muscle memory in order to obtain the most consistent and accurate shot. Most shooting drills are tedious and vague, providing little guidance to the player. Consequently, these drills show few results in improving players shooting abilities.

The shooting apparatus and method of the present invention provides immediate feedback to the shooter, through one or more of a sound, a light (such as an LED), and a vibratory signal in order to train the player's shooting form. In certain aspects of the invention, the apparatus provides the player guidance for when to release the ball during the shooting motion, to realize the most accurate shot. The present invention is user-friendly and readily provides feedback to the user on how to perfect their shot. Moreover, the training apparatus may have a small form factor, the component will be as small as a quarter, allowing it to be discrete, yet effective.

As seen in reference to the drawings of FIGS. 1-4, an apparatus according to aspects of the present invention includes an outer sleeve 18 and an inner sleeve 22 worn on the user's 10 shooting arm 12. A control circuit 32 with a processor; a power source 26 such as a battery are attached to the inner sleeve 22. One or more motion and position sensors 38; an audio output device 30, such as a speaker; a light emitter 24, which may include a positive feedback color (green) and a negative feedback color (red); a circuit board/pocket pack 28; and associated connection wires 34, may also be carried on the inner sleeve 22. The components may be covered by an outer sleeve 18 worn by the on the player's 10 shooting arm 12. A light emitting strip 16 may extend longitudinally along the length of the outer sleeve 18 to permit the light emitters 24 beneath the strip 26 to be seen. A pocket pack cover 14 may be provided on the outer sleeve 18 to provide access to the pocket pack 28, when worn by the user 10.

The outer sleeve 18 is preferably a snug fitting elastic material, and may include a band 20 at an upper end thereof to maintain the sleeve 18 in position on the player's shooting arm 12. A closure 36 and fastener, such as a zipper, Velcro, snaps, button, or belt, may also be provided to facilitate donning the sleeve 18 over the biceps and triceps, and then snugly fitting the sleeve 18 to the arm 12.

The control circuit 32 with processor and the motion/position sensors 38 in it are configured to measure the position of the shooters arm 12. The speaker 30 is connected to the control circuit 32 and is configured to emit an audible feedback signal for the shooter. The feedback signals may be configured to alert the shooter to the attainment of the proper positioning of the shooting arm 12 in an initial aiming position, such as shown in reference to FIG. 5. The motion and position sensors 38 determine the positioning of the shooter's arm 12 and extension during the shot and provide a feedback signal when the proper release position is attained.

The feedback signals may include one or more of the visual light signal, the audio signal, and a vibratory signal. By way of non-limiting example, when the user 10 is in a shooting motion, the sleeve will illuminate a red LED that lets the user know they are not in the correct shooting form and will illuminate the green LED to let the user 10 know when they are in the correct shooting position. The light emitter 24/16 may be positioned to where the shooter may detect it in their peripheral vision without disturbing their primary focus on the basket. By way of example, the LED 24 may be positioned on the interior of the elbow of the shooting arm 12. The audio and vibratory emitters 30 may provide a ‘beeping’ noise or a buzzing when the sleeve lights the green LED.

The control circuit 32 is small enough to fit within a pouch 14 in the sleeve 18, 22. The battery source 26 may include AAA or other small form batteries. Alternatively, a rechargeable battery and charging circuitry, such as via a USB connection may be provided.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A basketball shot training apparatus, comprising: a sleeve formed of an elastic material and dimensioned to fit around a user's arm between a forearm and an upper arm; one or more sensors carried on the sleeve configured to determine a position and a movement of the user's arm when shooting a basketball; a control circuit with a processor configured to compare the position and movement of the user's arm with a desired position and movement of the user's arm when shooting the basketball; and a feedback signaling device, configured to advise the user of the position and movement of the user's arm relative to the desired position when shooting the basketball.
 2. The basketball shot training apparatus of claim 1, wherein the feedback signaling device comprises: a light emitting device.
 3. The basketball shot training apparatus of claim 2, wherein the light emitting device is visible in a peripheral field of view of the shooter when shooting.
 4. The basketball shot training apparatus of claim 2, wherein the light emitting device illuminates in a first color, indicating conformance with the desired position.
 5. The basketball shot training apparatus of claim 4, wherein the light emitting device illuminates a second color, indicating a deviation from the desired position.
 6. The basketball shot training apparatus of claim 1, wherein the feedback signaling device comprises an audio output device.
 7. The basketball shot training apparatus of claim 1, wherein the feedback signaling device comprises a vibratory emitter.
 8. The basketball shot training apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an outer sleeve dimensioned to overly the sleeve.
 9. A method for basketball shot training: fitting a shot training sleeve to a shooting arm of a user, the shot training sleeve having one or more sensors carried on the sleeve configured to determine a position and a movement of the user's arm when shooting a basketball, a control circuit with a processor configured to compare the position and movement of the user's arm with a desired position and movement of the user's arm when shooting a basketball, a feedback signaling device; and activating the feedback signaling device, during a basketball shot, to advise the user of the position and movement of the user's arm relative to the desired position when shooting the basketball.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: providing a positive feedback signal to the user, when the basketball shot conforms with the desired position and movement.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: providing a negative feedback signal to the user, when the basketball shot is a deviation from the desired position and movement.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the feedback signal is one or more of an audio, a visual, or a tactile feedback signal.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: providing the visual feedback signal in a peripheral field of view of the user.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: activating the feedback signal during an initial ready position for the basketball shot.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: terminating the feedback signal after a follow through position for the basketball shot. 